Stillen OIL COOLER, Headers, Catback and Light Weight Pulley (Pictures A-plenty)

Josh@STILLEN · 04-10-2009, 07:33 PM

Please let me know if you have any issues.. I appreciate you guys bringing it to my attention.

Remember we're fully staffed with a service workshop in addition to our R&D and Mfg.. we do these same installs day in and day out.

tru_Asiatik · 04-10-2009, 07:43 PM

thanks for the heads up josh ill keep that in mind when i get mine installed
semtex:
the reason im delaying install is because i do not want to "add" anything while im still in the "break in period" and i want to experience first how the z is in stock form(this is my first z and first manual sports car that i own) that way i can really tell the difference on all the mods im adding
but rest assure i will follow suit to you and everyone else who has the same setup on doing a on hand review after everything is done

semtex · 04-10-2009, 07:58 PM

Cool. Sounds like a good plan! I didn't realize you were still in break-in.

wstar · 04-10-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh@STILLEN

Hey guys.. the exhaust can take some adjustment, as we have discussed. The best method (not saying anyone hasn't done this.. but I conferred with my service manager) is to loosen everything, and jacking at the y-pipe (hard!) get the clearance necessary to clear the crossmember.

This will take loosening the bolts at the catalytic converter brace which hooks to the transmission. This is a slotted brace, and can give you the 1/4" needed to clear everything.

You should not have to heat anything up to make clearance..

Josh, at least in my case, there was no adjusting this away. I loosened all of the clamps and bolts in the Stillen cat-back, as well as the brace you describe, and the bolts on both sides of my cats (basically, I loosened everything in the exhaust except the header<->engine bolts), and jacked it into place from two points, and retorqued everything. It still fell back on the crossmember when the jacks came down. Two exhaust shops tried to fix things the gentle way too (one had some measure of success by bending the hangers on the center section), but it wasn't all-ok until the last guy did the "heat up the pipes and bend them a bit" trick.

Josh@STILLEN · 04-10-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Josh, at least in my case, there was no adjusting this away. I loosened all of the clamps and bolts in the Stillen cat-back, as well as the brace you describe, and the bolts on both sides of my cats (basically, I loosened everything in the exhaust except the header<->engine bolts), and jacked it into place from two points, and retorqued everything. It still fell back on the crossmember when the jacks came down. Two exhaust shops tried to fix things the gentle way too (one had some measure of success by bending the hangers on the center section), but it wasn't all-ok until the last guy did the "heat up the pipes and bend them a bit" trick.

That seems very strange.. I wish you were closer so we could take a look, and see if anything is different with your car, or how the parts were bolting together, etc.

Don't get me wrong, things are tight in there.. tighter in fact than the 350Z..

I'm sorry you had such difficulty. I'll rediscuss it with our guys.. but it hasn't been a problem for those installed in our shop.

Forrest · 04-11-2009, 03:47 PM

I know this is off topic but i am allways amazed at stillens customer service and responce.

wstar · 04-11-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forrest

I know this is off topic but i am allways amazed at stillens customer service and responce.

Me too

alan93rsa · 04-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Josh,

Even if you test every system on a jig you can still run into stacking tolerances on the final fit. OE plus aftermarket.

For those having issues with fitment it might be interesting to know how close are the manufacturing dates of the cars. It could be something as simple as a small change in motor mounts by Nissan.

Musashi · 04-12-2009, 11:08 AM

I installed my exhaust yesterday. I read this post and used Stillen's suggestion on loosening the bracket at the cats. I jacked at the proper jacking point as show in the instructions.

The exhaust clears it when jacked but come right back down on top of the cross member. NOTE: I have stock cats.

wstar · 04-12-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musashi

I installed my exhaust yesterday. I read this post and used Stillen's suggestion on loosening the bracket at the cats. I jacked at the proper jacking point as show in the instructions.

The exhaust clears it when jacked but come right back down on top of the cross member. NOTE: I have stock cats.

Yeah then you're seeing the same thing we're all seeing. I went through the loosening and jacking thing twice, it always drops back into the crossmember when you let the jack down. A good exhaust shop can fix it up pretty cheaply as I mentioned earlier. I'm starting to wonder if maybe the car Stillen designed this against was on the outer edges of "average" for how things line up. In any case it's still a great exhaust, just needs a little tweaking

Musashi · 04-12-2009, 08:07 PM

I'm thinking of getting the insulation wrap commonly used for headers to keep it from vibrating on the cross member, what do you guys think? That or go to a muffler shop and have them wrench on my car, with no guarantee they'll get it.

wstar · 04-13-2009, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musashi

I'm thinking of getting the insulation wrap commonly used for headers to keep it from vibrating on the cross member, what do you guys think? That or go to a muffler shop and have them wrench on my car, with no guarantee they'll get it.

I think in the long run you need to get it off the crossmember. Exhaust wrap isn't going to help a whole lot.

Musashi · 04-13-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

I think in the long run you need to get it off the crossmember. Exhaust wrap isn't going to help a whole lot.

Ok, I know a good place to take it. I will follow up today. Thanks.

RCZ · 04-13-2009, 07:32 PM

Guys, I got it fixed today and it was SO easy. It took the shop literally less than 5 minutes to fix my clearance issue. I have no doubts the system fits fine without having to do this, but its just so much easier to do what I did and someone else (sorry, was it wstar?) did. Just have them apply heat to the front Y section and push up the section directly above the cross member. The pipe will bend up a fraction of a centimeter and you are done. Thats it. Takes a minute to heat. It took more time for the lift to go up and down than for the job itself...

Musashi · 04-13-2009, 07:50 PM

I also had mine fixed today by a performance exhaust shop. I took a few pics.

Notice how the cats bracket was adjusted and the clamps on the rubber hangers. The rubber hangers do flex a little and the clamps keep it to a minimal.

While jacking at the y pipe as shown in the instructions loosen all of your bolts including the cat brackets. Get some cheap clamps and clamp the rubber hangers as shown in the pics. Gradually go around and tighten all of the bolts evenly.... If all else fails go to a shop!

Getting it off the cross member made a HUGE improvement in the sound of the exhaust. With the exhaust resting on the cross member not only was I hearing rattling at times but it had a resonance from the contact. Sounds much better, and I'm happy with it.

04-10-2009, 07:43 PM	#32 (permalink)
tru_Asiatik Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: so cal Posts: 793 Drives: 2009 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 270	thanks for the heads up josh ill keep that in mind when i get mine installed semtex: the reason im delaying install is because i do not want to "add" anything while im still in the "break in period" and i want to experience first how the z is in stock form(this is my first z and first manual sports car that i own) that way i can really tell the difference on all the mods im adding but rest assure i will follow suit to you and everyone else who has the same setup on doing a on hand review after everything is done __________________ Stillen G3 CAIStillen CBEBerk's HFCEibach ProkitHotchkis Swaysichiba 15/20mm spacers? Oil coolerStillen PulleyStillen Headers

04-10-2009, 07:58 PM	#33 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Cool. Sounds like a good plan! I didn't realize you were still in break-in. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

04-11-2009, 05:45 PM	#38 (permalink)
alan93rsa Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 412 Drives: 16 Cayman GT4 Red Rep Power: 220	Josh, Even if you test every system on a jig you can still run into stacking tolerances on the final fit. OE plus aftermarket. For those having issues with fitment it might be interesting to know how close are the manufacturing dates of the cars. It could be something as simple as a small change in motor mounts by Nissan. __________________ 16 Cayman GT4, Carmine Red, Buckets, PCCB etc.

04-12-2009, 08:07 PM	#41 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 606	I'm thinking of getting the insulation wrap commonly used for headers to keep it from vibrating on the cross member, what do you guys think? That or go to a muffler shop and have them wrench on my car, with no guarantee they'll get it. Last edited by Musashi; 04-12-2009 at 11:14 PM.

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04-10-2009, 07:33 PM	#31 (permalink)
Josh@STILLEN The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,197 Drives: 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT Rep Power: 533	Please let me know if you have any issues.. I appreciate you guys bringing it to my attention. Remember we're fully staffed with a service workshop in addition to our R&D and Mfg.. we do these same installs day in and day out.

04-11-2009, 03:47 PM	#36 (permalink)
Forrest Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: california 707! Posts: 677 Drives: 09 370z Blk 6mt sprt Rep Power: 258	I know this is off topic but i am allways amazed at stillens customer service and responce.

04-12-2009, 11:08 AM	#39 (permalink)
Musashi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 357 Drives: 09 370Z 6speed Rep Power: 606	I installed my exhaust yesterday. I read this post and used Stillen's suggestion on loosening the bracket at the cats. I jacked at the proper jacking point as show in the instructions. The exhaust clears it when jacked but come right back down on top of the cross member. NOTE: I have stock cats.

04-13-2009, 07:32 PM	#44 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	Guys, I got it fixed today and it was SO easy. It took the shop literally less than 5 minutes to fix my clearance issue. I have no doubts the system fits fine without having to do this, but its just so much easier to do what I did and someone else (sorry, was it wstar?) did. Just have them apply heat to the front Y section and push up the section directly above the cross member. The pipe will bend up a fraction of a centimeter and you are done. Thats it. Takes a minute to heat. It took more time for the lift to go up and down than for the job itself...